machination

noun

ˌma-kə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce machination (audio)
Definition of machinationnext
as in conspiracy
a secret plan for accomplishing evil or unlawful ends incredibly complicated machinations to assassinate the president that inevitably failed

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun machination differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of machination are cabal, conspiracy, intrigue, and plot. While all these words mean "a plan secretly devised to accomplish an evil or treacherous end," machination implies a contriving of annoyances, injuries, or evils by indirect means.

the machinations of a party boss

Where would cabal be a reasonable alternative to machination?

Although the words cabal and machination have much in common, cabal typically applies to political intrigue involving persons of some eminence.

a cabal among powerful senators

In what contexts can conspiracy take the place of machination?

While the synonyms conspiracy and machination are close in meaning, conspiracy implies a secret agreement among several people usually involving treason or great treachery.

a conspiracy to fix prices

When might intrigue be a better fit than machination?

While in some cases nearly identical to machination, intrigue suggests secret underhanded maneuvering in an atmosphere of duplicity.

backstairs intrigue

When is plot a more appropriate choice than machination?

The words plot and machination can be used in similar contexts, but plot implies careful foresight in planning a complex scheme.

an assassination plot

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of machination Why pull back the curtain on the inner machinations of the athletic department about 24 hours before their most important game of the season? —Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 25 Mar. 2025 Sexual insecurity is what makes this great military man so vulnerable to Iago’s machinations. —Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 24 Mar. 2025 Now trapped inside the car and communicating through the car's speaker system, Eddie has to reckon with the devious machinations of William and whatever chaos he's got planned. —Kevin Sabet, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025 Others would exhort that the end result is what counts, not how the inner machinations work. —Lance Eliot, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for machination
Recent Examples of Synonyms for machination
  1. conspiracy
  2. scheme
  3. plot
Noun
  • Lori Vallow Daybell convicted of murder Vallow Daybell was charged in May 2021 with the murders of her children and conspiracy to commit the murder of Tammy Daybell.
    — Miguel Torres, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025
  • He was allowed to plead guilty to a single bribery conspiracy count of receiving more than $700,000 while orchestrating an elaborate scheme to enrich his family and friends.
    — Janet Nguyen, Oc Register, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of conspiracy
Noun
  • Detectives arrested a man accused in a lottery ticket stealing scheme that netted him and a partner thousands of dollars in winnings, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
    — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2025
  • The scheme is further complicated because Tom Buchanan is cheating on Daisy.
    — Ron Grossman, Chicago Tribune, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of scheme
Noun
  • The structure will be the latest addition to Veteran’s Memorial Park, a half-acre triangular plot across the street from the Arlington Heights United Methodist Church.
    — Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2025
  • And if the final episode's plot lines, motifs and even cinematography seem a little familiar, there's a reason why.
    — Audrey Gibbs, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of plot

Browse Nearby Words

machinating
machination
machinations
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Cite this Entry

“Machination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/machination. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.

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